Birthday Bash! Party Planning Tips & Tricks

Of course we love the goody bag. But for your next fete, why not package your parting gifts in a more inventive way?

* Fill a sandwich baggie with jelly beans and tie it tightly. Place baggie, closure side down, in a paper cup cut in half, then glue a red pom-pom to the top.

* Paper or colored-plastic compact-disc envelopes make great holders for extra-large cookies or mini pen-and-pad sets.

* For an active sports party, hand out treat-filled personalized water bottles with a coach's whistle.

* Staple individually wrapped candies together to make a necklace and decorate with a name tag.

* Kids love crafts, so package fabrics and papers, kid-friendly scissors, markers, and a mini squeeze bottle of glue in a small pail as a take-home art kit.